IAN MacGregor's hard line tactics as chair of the NCB look likely to explode in his face as the pit supervisors the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers, ballot on strike action.
It seems likely that the members will give the re. quired 66 per cent majority for action.
the NACODS were 10 sake l wolo b dramatic blow against the NCB. It would almost cer tainly mean iba: te scrk. ing STO NACODS not noted tT IE Mumz It worked throug Ie zs miners strikes, and nas made no attempt to support the present dispute. Deputies must NACODS' main complaint is that its members being stopped pay when they refuse to cross pickel Ines. Some 3000 of their 17,000 members are ai present not oelng pala.
The reason for the NCB's hard line with the normally docile pit supervisors MacGregor's desparate attempt to shore up the almost non-existent 'back to work' movement.
If the pit supervisors retuse to cross the lines with the wabs in ihe trikine eze.
Star := T.TI : me Tal Je nave io stuúr to the union. If this жете happen, unlikely. This would be a mistake on NACODS Their ,grievances with the Board are very similar to the NUMS. Thev are the closure programme, the lough management regime under MacGregor, a nd the NCB's alLculols LUTC roughshod over the union.
By coming out with the miners they would hasten nieteeo enco. ane rid the industry of its pre I! ibe CB were dezesi Virirger :
LACODS couid pay heavy price such compromise later. decisions in crucial miners. In South Wales, Yorkshire key power stations have given their backing.
Workers at Blyth, Fidders Ferry, Aberthaw Drax, Eggborough Ferrybridge 'C' alone account for more third of the CEGB's coalfired capacity. Their deci sion to refuse fresh supplies of coal brings the day when the lights start going vul a zlalll suco lcalcI The Trent Valley as expected, the most to get support from. But other moves by the unions will reduce the significance The GMBATL is pur==0=20:000sa ICTE STOTE E. III= z zeA UA senay di coai irom NotIinghamshire, restricting oil burn to last year's levels. government gathered momentum this week with power stations to back the the North East The coal-handling One miser able to keen check on coal coming in. The policy needed is simFiddle's Ferry, Ieb Godt As the convenor win put it: 'We are not letting any more in'.
These moves will massively increase the pressure Thatcher. She must now move to bring matters to a head.
IE Tar «pina bacs dha pic tend that it is just a matter of sitting out the strike, until the miners are starved to act.
As the Economist not int ve hole ori thy that the vehicle deteat will be either Mrs Thatcher or Mr MacGregor .. . Nor will defeat come at : the hands of the government's trade union laws or from some judge-enforce ballot which Mr Scargil will ignore. Instead defeat will come trom within the movement itself.
The implication of the Economist article is clear.
edged wearo Te Tile edged weapon can delive: esough sun XTE:
TOLLET.
TK " " try to blow up the developing solidarity by escalating the political stakes facing the TUC. After ASLEF, the health workers and the NGA, there is no room for complacenc! about the TUČ's potential for snat ching defeat from the jaws of ihe Tuc talks with The MacGregor aimed geting ACAS involved -are not a side-show. They the TUC is demanding fo e ce c its involvement.
There plenty of C BIC - in the eadershij Kinnock one — who are more kee to see the strike settled than to see the miners win The next weeks will be crucial. If Thatche can up the stakes seca = Tar =: Ei de I IE IsT: Is irs:
'total suppor dematse. by congress policy
Socialist Action. 28 September 1984